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From 1927 through 1933, Robert Moses, chairman of the Long Island State Park Commission, was actively promoting the need for improved parkways to connect New York City to Long Island state parks. This 36" x 28" planning map was prepared for a 1931 presentation to the Queensboro Chamber of Commerce.

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick

In 1927 Robert Moses gave a speech on the future of Long Island to an association of real estate brokers. As reported in the Pulitzer Prize book The Power Broker, Moses said: " The Island was a gigantic cul-de-sac, a body with no outlet on its eastern end. Therefore, the Island is not a commercial community. Instead, it is a place for people to live and play, mostly play. It is a natural recreational community, the inevitable playground for millions of people in the metropolitan section. New roads, therefore, should be parkways designed to bring people from New York City for recreation and not for any other reason."

The 1931 planning map showed the routes of the current and future routes of Northern State Parkway, Southern State Parkway and "parkway spurs" to the Long Island state parks.

The map was dated December 13, 1931 with a key for an existing parkway (solid line), a parkway under construction (dotted line) and a proposed parkway (a dashed line).

Queens

The New York Times reported on December 13, 1931 that "Queens planners back Moses on Astoria- Jamaica link."

A close-up shows the proposed Grand Central Parkway extension to the Tri-borough Bridge. The proposal received full support by the borough planning committee.

Nassau County

Section of the Northern State Parkway in Nassau County under construction (dotted line) and proposed (dashed line). Note in 1931, there were no plans to connect Northern State Parkway with the "Meadowbrook Spur" and the "Wantagh Spur".

Sam Berliner III: For my own amusement and for whatever it's worth, I took the three best shots and traced the LIMP RoW in RED for Central Queens, Eastern Queens-Nassau, and Suffolk (which doesn't quite make it to Ronkonkoma.

It's interesting to note that the LIMP is named in the Lake Success-Herricks-Williston area, along Stewart Avenue in Garden City, and in Central Park, but nowhere on the Suffolk section.

Comments

Dec 14 2014Tom Grant12:18 AM

Howard: Thanks for the wonderful post. Hope all is well with you.
Best,
Tom

Dec 14 2014Leroy Douglas12:47 AM

Thanks for sharing this amazing map with us. It is very interesting that as late as 1931, Robert Moses had not yet projected a parkway to what became the Bethpage State Park. Robert Moses’ power and influence motivated the Town of Babylon to enact their first zoning regulations in 1931. These regulations were strengthened in 1954. Moses wanted strict local planning and zoning to protect his lovely parkways from intrusive development. It is also interesting how close the Long Island Motor Parkway came to the Bethpage Park.

Dec 14 2014Rog Patterson7:15 AM

I grew up in Rockville Centre during the late 20’s and early 30’s and was familiar with “newness” of Southern State Parkway. Married and moved to one of Abe Levitt’s last homes built in Wantagh while working in Manhattan, Rockville Centre and Oyster Bay, so drove some of those early Moses efforts frequently.

Dec 14 2014frank femenias9:00 AM

Awesome map Howard. I was expecting to see a proposed highway slipping through Fire Island as well but to no avail. Looking at all the current proposed projects already on the map, Moses must’ve had his plate full and Fire Island was not thought of yet.

Dec 14 2014Howard Kroplick12:29 PM

From Cathy Ball:

Great Map! Thanks!

Dec 16 2014S. Berliner, III11:40 PM

These comments reminded me of my earliest driving on Southern State in my ‘39 Chrysler in 1950 when the speed limit was all of 35mph! All the LI parkway gas stations were open and there were NO dividers! Sam (I’m SOOOO old!), III

Dec 18 2014frank femenias12:36 AM

Hi Sam III. My first driving experiences were also unforgettable. Good times! I’m sending Howard 2 pics of the SSP around that time and hope it brings back good memories. Frank

Long island

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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.